Visible index



Maich 26, 1929. I F. 0. POWELL 1,706,984

visIBLE INDEX Filed June 17, 1925 Fill Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

v barren STA'ET'ES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. IOVVELL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ACME CARD SYSTEM COM- IANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOlS, A GORPQRAIION O11 ILLINOIS.

VISIBLE INDEX.

Application filed June 1'7, 1925. Serial No. 37,628.

This invention relates to improvements in visible indexes, and refers more particularly to improvements in visible card indexes :ulapted to hang in overlapping relation in a frame. p

One of the specific embodiments of the present invention resides in the construction of the supporting element for the cards. This supporting or hinge element takes the form of a unitary structure having side plates connected by means of a horrible crossconnecting piece, the index cards being inountable on and removable from the side pieces.

The supporting or hinge elen'ient may itself be utilized, as a hanger or may be utilized in conjunction with a hanger on which it may be reinovably supported. The cards may be placed upon the side pieces by means of slots or notches either on or adjacent to the upper side edges. 7 i i In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragn'ientary elevational View of an index frame to which my invention may be applied.

2 is a crossscctional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge element. Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary face View of one of the side plates. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. Fig. Sis a crosssectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4t. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged frag- .mcntary face view of the right-hand upper edge of the card showing one form of slot. Fig. 5) is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the manner of mounting the index card having a slot projecting inwardly from its side edges.

Referring in detail to Figs. 1 to 8 both inclusive of the drawings, 1 designates the central web, and 2 the flanged channels of a metal su iportiug frame in substantial commercial. use at the present time. Hangers 3 which may take the form of resilient lengths of wire are extended across the body 1 of the frame and have spaced return-bent portions 4 for a propose new to be explained.

Describing now some of the features of the present invention, a hinge element such as designated as a Whole 5 (Fig. 8} may coinprise a pair of substantially flat side plates 6 having the upper rolled beaded edge 7, the latter forming pintle eyes. Each pair of side plates is formed into a unitary structure by.

being connected by a cross-connecting piece 8 which in the present instance, is made of substantially flexible material. such as clock spring metal and the like. Any method of attaching the plates 6 to the cross-connecting piece 8 may be utilized, such as the punchedout clinching members 9 on the plates (5.

Each plate is preferably provided with a pair of raised lochin g lips 10 (Fi 4;) which may be stamped out and raised from the face of the plate itself, as shown. lllhesc locking lips 10 are adapted to register first with the enlarged openings 11 in the index cards 12, and subsequently with the smaller elongated slots 13 to lock same in place. The arrangement is such that to mount a card upon a pair of plates 6, it is only necessary to bend the card centrally, it being flexible enough to allow this, so that the enlarged notches 11 slip over the locking lips 10. The card is then flattened out, and the edges of the locking lips overlie the portions of the slot 13, which is of reduced cross-section relative to theaperture 11.

By means of the present inventimi, it is possible to mount the index cards in overlapping relation on a frame in which index cards are mountable on or ren'lovable from their supports without disturbing the set of the supports. In other words, in the constructions now on the n'iarket, each card is provided with a pair of hinges placed on the upper edge of said card adjacent the side edges. These hinges are more or less permanently attached to the card, and in most cases this construction is preferable. lilowever, it has been found necessary in certain instances tO lGIIIOVQ the hinges from the cards in order to allow the rards to be rolled around the platen of a typewriter, for instance.

The present invention was perfected to allow ready removal of the cards from their hinge elements without removing the hinges from the hanger, or the hanger from the frame. 1

It is to he expressly understood that I may dispense entirely with. the hangers 5 and utilize what I have termed hinge eleu'ients, as the hangers or supporting elements for the cards on the frames. For instance, the ends of the cross-connecting piece 8 may be tended outwardly beyond the outer edges of the plates '6, said projecting ends being placed between the channelled guides 2 of the frame. The inventivenovelty of the present invention resides as heretofore pointed'out, in the ease with whiehthe ards are mountable on or removable from the hinge elements without disturbing the position of the hinge element relative to the frame.

y In Fig. 9, there is shown a slightly modified form of construction-in which the index ards instead of being provided With the ordinary slot as shown in Fig. 8 may be provided with a notch extending from the side edge inwardly as SllOWn at i l. It course, that I do not wish to limit inyrwlt to the particular sh pe or position or the slots, as those slots may be formed on the side edges of the cards, or interior of the cards v as desired.

It is understood oi course, that a plurality of cards are adapted to be mounted in overlapping relation in the frame spaced by means of the return-bent portions of the hangers. The flexibility of the cross-connecting piece Sallows the intern'le'diate element- 5 to be contraeted centrally when bei 1g put in place or removed from position.

I claim as my invention 1. A visible ind 2; comprising in combination a supporting frame having side flanges, an index eard,means r'or detaehably supporting said index card on said frarre, comprising a hangs" adapted to have engagement with said frame in said side flanges, index card supporting elements adapted to have e agement with said hanger, comprising spaeed hinge elements connected into a unitary structureby a connecting strip, said index card being mountable on or removable from rind hinges without disturbing the position of the hinges relative to the hanger, or the hange relative to the f 'anie. l

A visible "iidex, coinprising tien a supporting frame having si t nnnoes, an innex card, means for detaehably porting said index card on said frame, coinprisin'g a hanger adapted to have engagement withsaid frame in said side flanges, index card supporting, elements adapted to have engagement with said hanger, comprising spaced hinge elements eon; eeted into a unitary structure by a flexible connecting strip, said in dex card being mountable on or rem-ovable' from said hinges without disturbing the position of the hinges relative tothe hanger, or the'hai gerrelative to the frame.

3. A visible index, comprising in combina tion a supporting frame having side flanges,

is to be understood of i'ame in said side flanges, index card mg spaced hi1 'e elements connected into a unitary structure by a flexible connecting strip, said index card being mountable on or removable from s l hingeswithout disturbposition or the hinges ivclative to the el, or the hanger relative to the frame. l. IL risiole index, comprising in combination'a supporting frame having side flange index ear means tor dolachably supporting said index card on said frame, comprising a hanger adapted to have detachable e uuent vith said t 'ame in said side e, ind-ex ca rd suporting elements adapt ed to have detachable engagement with said hanger, comprising spaced hinge elements connects: into a unitary strm'ture by a llvxible connecting strip, said index 'ard being mountable on or removable from said hinges without disturbing the positi n of the hinges relative to the hanger, or the hanger relative to the tran'ie.

5. In a visi index, in combimition, av

:Q' frame having side flanges, a flexihaving return-limit ends, engaged J; said side liar-ares, index card-support1ug sn ppo x apted to nave detachable cooperager, comprising spaced hinges conneet'ui irto a unitary structure by a flexible connecting strip, 31R. an index card adapted to be removably supported on said, hinges.

6. A visible index, comprising in combimv tion a supporting frame. an index card, in ans ii; detachably S1l})1)()l'i'i])f f said index card l't atiro to said iramo comprising a banner 2 d to hate cooperative engagement with aame, index card supporting moans to cooperatively em: are with said fed into a unitary structure by a conng strip, and means whorooy said mdox rent with said hinge elements without 1g the position ot the bulge elements role-ave to the hanger or the hanger relative 4 may be mounted on or removed from' 

